The Arizona Diamondbacks got encouraging news over the weekend as right-hander Justin Martinez completed a successful rehab outing in the Arizona Complex League, raising hopes for his return to the major league bullpen soon.
Justin Martinez, who was placed on the injured list earlier this month with right shoulder inflammation, took a significant step forward in his recovery on Saturday. Pitching one inning against the Giants’ Arizona Complex League team, he retired all three batters he faced on just 10 pitches, including one strikeout. Manager Torey Lovullo noted that Martinez threw an additional 10 pitches in the bullpen after the outing, marking another encouraging milestone in his rehab progress.
“He’s getting very close,” manager Torey Lovullo told reporters after the outing.
Although Martinez’s fastball didn’t quite hit the triple-digit speeds he was known for last season—when he averaged over 100 mph—it was a noticeable improvement from his last major league outing on April 30, when his velocity lingered around 95 mph. A rival scout confirmed that during Saturday’s appearance, Martinez reached 97 mph with one pitch and consistently threw between 98 and 99 mph on others, demonstrating significant progress in his arm strength and overall health.
The boost in Martinez’s velocity is especially promising for a Diamondbacks bullpen that has struggled with inconsistency, cycling through multiple pitchers to fill late-inning roles. As highlighted in this week’s Closer Report, Arizona is still working to establish a clear bullpen hierarchy — and Martinez could become a crucial piece once he’s fully healthy.
The team is currently weighing whether to activate Martinez ahead of their high-profile series against the Los Angeles Dodgers starting Monday, or to send him for one more rehab outing with Triple-A Reno on Tuesday before returning him in time for the following weekend’s series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Manager Torey Lovullo indicated the latter option might be more likely.
Martinez’s potential comeback could provide a significant boost to Arizona’s bullpen depth and late-inning firepower, especially as the team continues to evaluate its closer options. While reliable arms like Paul Sewald and Kevin Ginkel have stepped up, Martinez brings an added dynamic with his elite velocity and ability to generate swings and misses.
The D-backs’ pitching staff is entering a critical stretch, with ace Zac Gallen scheduled to pitch this week against the Colorado Rockies. Gallen, who holds a 7-1 record with a 2.59 ERA in 15 career starts against Colorado, aims to bounce back from a tough outing against the Dodgers on May 11. With Gallen steadying the rotation and Martinez close to returning, Arizona could be reinforcing its pitching staff at an ideal time.
For now, the team will keep a close eye on Martinez’s progress. Whether he returns in the series against the Dodgers or the Cardinals, his addition to the bullpen could play a key role in the D-backs’ efforts to remain competitive in the NL West.
